Fruit-stemming mechanism



May15, 1951 ,AKER 2,552,513

FRUIT-STEMMING MECHANISII Filed June 29, 1945 v y 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 LEONARD Anza..

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FRUIT-STEMMING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 15, 1951 L. AKER 2,552,613

FRUIT-mamma MECHANIsu Filed June 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 E-I EL El' F1 v w lmw as I n n l//s l i l 5 I l Leona/Mln AKER..

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` FRUIT-STEWING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 29, 1945 7 LEONARD AKER.

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May 15, 1951 l.. AKER FRUIT-STEMMING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Junev 29, 1945 DH l kvm um LEONARD AMER..

Patented May 15, 1951 FRUIT-STEMMING MECHANISM Leonard Aker, Palo Alto, Calif., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application June 29, 1945, Serial No. 602,324

21 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cherry handling machines and more particularly to stemming and orienting mechanism therefor.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved cherry orienting and stemming mechanism of high efficiency and comparatively inexpensive construction.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for righting stem bearing cherries, for stemming the same and for depositing the stemmed cherries in'righted position into the fruit holding cups of a cherry handling machine preparatory to pitting or reshaping operations upon the fruit.

Another object is to provide a cherry stemming mechanism with an improved stem discharge mechanism.

Another object is to provide a stemming mechanism for cherry pitting machines which includes a stem holding and discharge mechanism for discharging the stems severed from the fruit at a point exterior of the periphery of the fruit supporting turret of the pitting machine.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings in Which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a cherry handling machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of the drive mechanism of the machine taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the stemming mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the stemming mechanism taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 3 with the parts thereof shown in stem gripping position.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the stemming mechanism taken in the direction of line 5-5 of Fig. 4, certain parts of the machine being shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a portion of Fig. 4 taken along line 6 5 thereof.

Fig. 'i is a detail of the stemmer bracket taken along line 'I-'I of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the stemming mechanism in initial or fruit receiving position.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken along line 5-9 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 1C` is a fragmentary side elevation of the stemming mechanism with the parts thereof in stem gripping position.

Fig. 11 is a bottom view taken along line I I-I I a sprocket Wheel Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side view of the stemming mechanism illustrating the parts thereof in fruit stemming position.

Fig. 14 is a section through the stemming mechanism taken along line I4-I4 of Figs. 4 and 13.

Fig. 15 is a section similar to Fig. 12 but showing the stern clamping means in clamping position.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Figs. 8, 10 and 13 but illustrating the removal of the stem to a point remote :from the fruit support.

Fig. 1'7 is a fragmentary elevation of :a portion of Fig. 16 illustrating the stem discharge position of the stemming mechanism.

The stemming and orienting mechanism of the present invention has been illustrated in connection with a cherry pitting machine of the type generally shown in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,375,350, issued May 8, 1945, to Burton C. Coons, for Fruit Handling Machine. As best seen in Fig. l of the drawings, such machines comprise a supply hopper H, a feed mechanism F, a turret T and a stemming mechanism S as well as pitting and reshaping mechanisms which are not shown in the drawings.

In the operation of these machines, the cherries are deposited into the supply hopper I-I from which they are automatically fed by the feed mechanism F in righted position to the turret T. The turret T moves the cherries thus received into alignment with the stemming mechanism S which destems the cherries, orients the same incident to the stemming operation and returns the vcomprises a base I upon which a Vertical standard 2 supporting a vertical shaft 3 is fixed. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 3 is the turret T previously referred to.

The base I is provided with a bracket 4 upon which a motor 5 having a speed reduction unit 6 and a drive sprocket 'I is mounted. The upper portion of the standard 2 is formed in a hexagonal body 8 supporting a shaft 9 provided with Il) keyed thereto.

Varound the sprocket Wheels 'I and I0 is a drive chain II for driving the shaft 9 upon operation' of the motor 5. Secured to the drive shaft 9 is a bevel gear I2 which intermeshes with a bevel gear I3 fixed to a shaft I4 rotatably mounted `relative to the hexagonal body 8. The bevel gear Trained I3 in turn meshes with a bevel gear I5 fixed to a stemmer drive shaft I6 for driving the stemming mechanism S.

Rotatably mounted between the hexagonal body 8 of the standard 2 and a boss I9 of a bracket I8 extending laterally and then vertically from the standard 2 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is a shaft I1. Fixed to this shaft I1 is a bevel gear 28 which intermeshes with the bevel gear I on the stemmer drive shaft I6. Another bevel gear 28a. is keyed to the shaft I1 and meshes with a bevel gear 2I keyed to the bottom end of a shaft 2Ia supported in vertically aligned bearings 22 formed in a bracket 22a extending upwardly from the standard 2. Secured to the top end of shaft 2 Ia is a driver 23 of a Geneva drive. The Geneva drive includes a star wheel 23a. which is secured to the under side of the turret T as seen in Fig. 4 to intermittently rotate the turret T upon its shaft 3 and to index the turret relative to and in timed relation with the stemming mechanism S.

The turret T carries a plurality of fruit holding cups 24 arranged in groups, in the present instance in groups of four cups each aligned on chord lines of the turret as best seen in Fig. 3 so that upon intermittent operation of the turret T the groups of cups 24 are successively presented to the respective fruit treating units of the fruit handling machine.

The feeding mechanism F which forms no part of the present invention is mounted on the standard Zand is driven by the indexing shaft I1 through bevel gears 25 and 25' so as to position cherries, stem end up, in the cups 24 while the same 4are at rest adjacent and in valignment with the feeding mechanism F during the intermittent operation of the turret T.

The stemming mechanism S is supported on a bracket 26 extending radially from the standard 2. This bracket is provided with a horizontal bearing 21 for supporting the outer end of the stemmer drive shaft I6 hereinbefore mentioned. Mounted on the bracket 26 by bolts 28 is a xed goose neck shaped stemmer frame 29, the head portion of which overhangs Ain the direction of the turret T to support the various elements of the stemming mechanism S above the turret. This stemmer frame 29 (Fig. 4) has a pair of vertically aligned bearings 38 vand 3| formed integrally thereon, the bearing 36 being formed in the head lportion of the frame 29 and the bearing 3l being formed on an integral web 32 of the stemmer frame 29 substantially midway between the head portion thereof and the stemmer drive shaft I6. A pair of telescopically interfitting reciprocable shafts 33 and 34 are arranged for vertical movement in the aligned bearings 38 and 3l. The outer shaft 33 is a sleeve shaft which embraces the inner shaft 34 and is guided by the aligned bearings 3U and 3|. The inner shaft 34 in turn is guided by the sleeve shaft 33 so that both shafts 33 and 34 may be reciprocated relative to the frame 29 as well as relative to each other.

The shafts 33 and 34, (Figs. 4 and 5) are reciprocated by an actuating mechanism which includes a rotary cam 35 keyed to the stemmer drive shaft I6 closely adjacent the horizontal bearing 21 in the bracket 26. The rotary cam 35 has a hub .portion 36 extending therefrom toward the center of the turret T to lengthen the keying surface of the cam 35 relative to the shaft I6 and to provide a mounting for a thrust block 31..

The lower end of the outer reciprocable 4shaft 33 extends into the shank portion of a bifurcated arm 33 and is fiared outwardly to prevent its withdrawal from the shank of the arm 38. A pair of depending prongs 39 of this bifurcated arm 38 straddle the stemmer drive shaft I6 and the thrust block 31 to prevent lateral movement of the bifurcated arm 38 and to guide the youter shaft 33 for reciprocable movement in the aligned bosses 30 and 3l. Secured to the bifurcated arm 38 at the point of convergence of its prongs 39 is a pin 40 which extends into the lower end of the outer shaft 33 to further secure the bifurcated arm 36 thereto. Rotatably mounted on the` pin 48 is a cam roller 4I which extends into an outer .peripheral cam track 42 formed in the rotary cam 35 to impart reciprocable movement to the outer shaft 33.

The lower end of the inner reciprocable shaft 34 extends beyond the lowermost end of the shaft 33 linto the space between the prongs 39 of the ybifurcated arm 38 above the drive shaft I6 and the thrust Vblock 31. Secured to the lower end of the inner .reciprocable shaft 34 is a movable guide block 43 which engages inner guide faces 44 of the prongs 39 to guide the lower end of the inner shaft 34 during reciprocation thereof. Mounted on the movable guide block 43 is -a pin 45 a reduced portion 45a of which extends through the lower end of the shaft 34 to secure the latter to the movable block 43. A roller 46 is mounted on the free end of the pin 44 and extends into an inner peripheral cam track 41 formed in the rotary cam 35. This cam `track 41 is adapted to reciprocate the inner shaft 34 with the outer shaft 33 and relative to the latter. The prongs 39 of the bifurcated -arm 38 are provided with a cover plate 48 and are guided between one side of the rotary cam 35 and `a collar 49 fastened to the stemmer drive shaft I6 by a set screw 58 so that lateral movement of the prongs 39 relative to the shaft VI6 is prevented. The bottom ends of the depending prongs 39 are joined by a plate 5I -to further close the guideway provided between the prongs 39.

A stemmer head assembly generally indicated at 52 is carried by the reciprocable shafts 33 and 34 for movement therewith. This stemmer head assembly (Fig. 4) comprises a movable stemmer bracket 53 including vertically spaced bearing bosses 54 and 55 having aligned bores formed therethrough 'for slidably arranging the bracket 53 on the -outer reciprocable shaft 33. These bosses 54 and 55 are joined by a cylindrical shaped web 4'56 (Fi-gs.. 4 and '7) disposed concentric with respect to the vertical axis of the aligned bearing bosses 54 and 55. The web 56 as shown in Figs, 3, '8, and 11, has a pair of tangentially extending parallel arms 51 forming horizontally spaced supports above the fruit supporting cups 24 of the turret T disposed therebeneath. These parallelarms 51 are joined at the upper edge of their extremities by an integral web 58 (Fig. 4) and have two sets of aligned bearings 5'9 and 68 `(Figs. 14 and 5) spaced `from each other to either side of the web `58 for supporting a pair of stemmer jaws 62.

The stemmer jaws 62 comprise an outer sternmer jaw 63 and an inner stemmer jaw 66 which are movable toward and away Afrom each other. The outer stemmer jaw 63 is .formed integrally with a drive'yoke 64 pivotally mounted on an outer ,jaw shaft 65 extending through the bear- .,ings 59 on the parallel arms 51 to rockably support the drive yoke 64 and outer jaw 63 on the bracket 53. The inner stemmer jaw 66 is pivotally mounted on an inner jaw shaft 61 ex tending through the bearings 60 on the parallel arms 51 of the movable stemmer bracket 53 to rockably support the inner jaw 66 thereon.

The two jaws 53 and 66 are linked together' for simultaneous movement toward and away from each other by a jaw swivel block 69 secured to a pin 68 which is supported between and equally spaced from the two jaw shafts 65 and 61 by bearings 64', Fig. 10, formed in the drive yoke 64. The inner jaw 66 has a yoke formation extending radially therefrom embracing the jaw swivel block 69 in such a manner that upon rotative movement of the outer jaw 33 on its shaft 65 in one direction the block 69 will slide in the yoke 10 to impart a like rotative movement to the inner jaw 66 in an opposite direction.

Each of the jaws 63 and 66 (Figs. 4 and 8) has a stem engaging face 1l at its lower extremity. The faces 1| are preferably formed of an abrasive material imbedded in a stem gripper block 12, each of the jaws 63 and 66 having one of such blocks suitably secured in a recess 13 formed in their lower extremities.

The jaws 63 and 63 are swung relative to each other on their respective shafts 65 and 61 by a jaw actuating mechanism comprising a jaw operating yoke 14 (Fig. 4) which embraces a drive block 15 secured to a pin '6 (Fig. 14) supported at its ends for swivel movement in aligned bores 16 formed in the outermost horizontal section of the drive yoke 64 in such a manner that the block 15 is slidably arranged in the yoke 1li. The jaw operating yoke 14 has a vertical sleeve portion 11 slidably arranged on the outer reciprocable shaft 33 between the spaced bosses 55 of the stemmer bracket 53 for movement relative to the shaft 33 and to support the yoke 14 horizontally for operative connection with the drive block 15. The sleever portion 11 has a reduced threaded neck 18 on its upper end upon which an adjustable shoulder ring 19 surrounding the shaft 33 is threaded. The ring 19 forms a seat for a compression spring 8!) likewise surrounding the shaft 33 and compressed toward the ring 19 by a collar 8| fixed to the outer shaft 33 by a pair of set screws 82 (Fig. 6). The sleeve portion 11 also has a pair of set screws 33 having inner ends 33a extending therefrom into vertical slots 84 formed in the outer shaft 33 to prevent rotation of the yoke 1li about the shaft 33 but permitting limited vertical movement of yoke 14 relative to shaft 33.

Ijt will be noted from Figs. 3 and 5 that the jaws 62 extend beyond the lateral side faces of the parallel arms 51 and that the outer stemmer jaw G3 (Fig. 14) has outer bearings 85 pivotally arranged on the outer jaw shaft 55. A U-shaped frame 86 is carried by the outer jaw shaft t5 and comprises a pair of parallel lever arms S1 joined at their bottom by a horizontal plate 88 bolted as at 88 to the arms 31. Each lever arm 81 has a bearing 89 adjacent its upper end for pivotally mounting the U-shaped frame 86 on the outer ends of the outer jaw shaft E55 to permit rotative movement of the U-shaped frame 86 on the shaft 55 with the outer stemmer jaw 63 as Well as relative thereto (Fig. 17).

Extending upwardly from each of the bearings 89 is a lever 93 formed integrally with the parallel levers 81 and to each of these levers Si) is hooked one end of a tension spring 9i while the opposite end of each tension spring is' anchored to the frame 29. The arrangement is such that the U-shaped frame 86 is normally urged counter-clockwise as seen in Figs. 1, 8, 10, 13 and 16 to cause a lug 92 formed on the lower extremities of the parallel lever arms 81 to bear against lateral projections 93 formed integrally on the outer stemmer jaw 63 (Fig. 5). The counter-clockwise movement of the U-shaped frame 85 is thus imparted to the outer jaw 63 and by its link with the inner jaw 66 through the yoke 1li and swivel block 69 the inner jaw E6 is simultaneously urged in an opposite or clockwise direction (Figs. 1, 8, l0, 13 and 16) thereby tending to close the jaws 62 for gripping the stems extending upwardly from the fruit supported in the cups '24 on the turret 'I'.

The gripping engagement between the faces 1l of the two stemmer jaws 63 and 66 is tightened as seen in Figs. 4 and 6 by the compression spring 8B, the degree of compression thereof varying as the distance between the collar 8l varies relative to the shoulder ring 19. The ring 19 may be adjusted with respect to the threaded neck 18 of jaw operating yoke 14 to obtain the desired gripping pressure between the faces 1I.

It will be noted from Figs. 4 and 6 that the upward movement of the reciprocable shafts 33 and 34 effects an elevation of the whole stemmer head assembly 52 by reason of a connection of the lower bearing boss of the stemmer bracket 53 with the inner reciprocable shaft 3ft. This connection is established by a pin (Fig. 4) extending through the inner reciprocable shaft 3ft and diametrically opposed vertical .slots 91 formed in the outer reciprocable shaft 33 to permit relative movement of the shafts 33 and 321 and to permit the pin 96 to extend through the lower bearing boss 55 of the stemmer bracket 53. This pin 96 has threaded ends upon which suitable nuts 93' (Fig. 6) are threaded to secure the pin VS16 on the boss 55 and the inner shaft 34 for movement therewith.

The stemmer jaws S2 are opened by upward movement of the outer reciprocable shaft 33 relative to the inner reciprocable shaft 35i during the rotation of the rotary cam 35. As seen in Figs. 4 and 6 the initial upward movement of the outer shaft 33 relative to the inner shaft 34 releases the compression of the spring t@ whereby the clamping force of the stemmer jaws 52 is reduced. However, the jaws 62 remain in closed condition under the normal tension of the spring 9i. At this moment the lower bight portions 84a of the slots Se formed in the outer shaft 33 engage the inner ends 83a of the set screws 83 carried by the jaw operating yoke 1d, 11 so that the yoke 14 will raise with the outer shaft 3,3 as it continues to move upwardly. This upward movement of the jaw operating yoke 1d in turn raises the drive block 15 relative to the stemmer bracket 53 to rotate the drive yoke 54 and outer jaw 63 counter-clockwise (Fig. 4) about the outer jaw shaft 65 against the normal action of the tension spring 9|. A counter-clockwise movement is correspondingly imparted to the jaw swivel block 69 which through yoke formation 10 on the inner stemmer jaw 645 rotates the latter clockwise (Fig. 4) about the inner jaw shaft 61 thereby opening the jaws 62 as seen in Fig. 16.

As shown in Figs. 4 and '1 the entire head assembly 52 is keyed against rotative movement relative to the reciprocable shaft 33 but is permitted to reciprocate vertically relative thereto.

- lFor this purpose I provide a twee-way adjustable key between the head assembly 52 and the steine' mer frame 29 as will now be explained. The stemmer bracket 52 although vertically movable, held against rotation about the vertical outer shaft 33 by horizontally adjustable keys 99 'and (Figs. 4 and 7) disposed in a vertical keyway |0| formed in the cylindrical web 55 of the bracket 53. The uppermost key 99 is secured by a bolt |02 to a horizontal shaft |03 and the lower key |00 is secured to a like shaft |04 by a bolt |05. The two ends of each of these key shafts |03 and |04 extend through aligned bores in side skirting of the stemmer frame 29 and are' threaded to receive nuits |01. The nuts |07 are tightened in such a manner that the upper key 99 is urged to the left as indicated by arrow 99a' in Fig. '7, while the lower key |00 is urged to the right, as indicated by arrow |00a in Fig. 7. By this arrangement the keyway |01 although worn by constant reciprocation of the stemmer bracket 53 can be properly engaged at each side by lateral shifting of the shafts |03 and |04 and keys 99 and |00, respectively, thereby maintaining the parallel arms 57 in correct alignment relative to 'the turret T.

In the following, the major positions assumed by the stemmer head assembly 52 during the rotation of the rotary cam are explained in conjunction with radial lines marked on the cam 35 and designated A, B, C and D in Fig. 5. When during the rotation of the cam 35, the radial line A thereof registers` with the cam rollers 4| and 46 these rollers are at their extreme spacing relative to each other and the outer shaft 33 is at its extreme reciprocable limit upward relative to the inner shaft 34. In this position the stemmer j-aws 62 are open as seen in Fig. 8` and the stemmer head assemblyV 52 is slightly elevated. As the cam 35 rotates in the direction of the arrow 35a of Fig. 5i. e. clockwise, the outer cam track 42 declines rapidly while the inner cam track 47 de' clines less rapidly until the radial line B is in registration with the cam rollers 4| and 49 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. During this part of the rotation of the cam 35 both shafts 33 and 34 are moved to their lowermost position and the Shaft 33 moves to its lowermost position relative to the shaft 34 whereby the stemmer head assembly 52 is lowered and the stemmer jaws 52 are closed as shown in Fig. 10. tation of the cam 35 until the radial line C regis ters with the cam rollers 4! and 46 these' rollers do not move relative to each other but are elevated in unison. The united elevation of the rollers 4| and 46 raises the entire head assembly 52 beyond the full line illustration of Fig. 13. the cam 35 continues its clockwise rotation and while line D thereof moves into registration with the rollers 4| and 46 the inner cam track maintains the roller stationary at its extreme elevated level while the outer cam track 42 further elevates the roller 4|. Consequently shaft 34 remains stationary while shaft 33 is elevated whereby the compression on the jawV tightening spring 90 is released and the stemmer jaws 021 are swungV to open position as shown in Fig. 16. During the remainder of the rotation of the cam 35- from line D to line A the various partsY of the stemmer are.

returned to their initial position completing one cycle of operation.

The stem centering mechanism of' the present invention (Figs. 9, 11', 12 andi 15) comprises a pair' ofcomb units |03- and |09". The comb unit |08' comprises' a plurality of normally spaced During the next phase of ro-U negers arranged in pairs consisting of companion Y:fingers H0 and Hl hi'g their ends flared t0 provide V slots` H2 racing the space between the stemmer jaws 62. This comb unit |98 is carried by the horiion'tal plate 80 forming the hightportio'n of the U'Shaped frame 89 mounted on the outer jaw shaft 55 along with the outer stemmer jaw" 03 for movement therewith and relative thereto.

The other comb unit |59 (Figs. and 9) forming a part of a stripping mechanism |0911 carried by the inner stemmer jaw 69 comprises a plurality of stripping -fe'et- ||3 commensurate in number to the number of fruit holding cups 24 of a cordal group on the turret 'I'. Each stem stripping foot H3 is V-shaped at its' end facing the opposite stemmer jaw 63V and is downwardly olf-set rela-A tive to the opposite fingers HS' and of the comb unit 08 to underlie the latter when the jaws are in closed position as seen in Figs. 4 and 10. The comb units |08 and |09 cooperate to righ'ten the stems of the fruit i. e. to dispose the stems in a vertical position as the stem gripping jaws 53 and 655 approach each other as illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11 thus assuring that each fruit will be properly positioned in its respective cup 24 with the stem blossom axis of the fruit in alignment with the vertical axis of the cup. Each foot H3 (Figs. 4, 5', 8, 10 and 11) has a mounting portion ||4 secured by nuts ||5 and |I5a' to the' lower end of a stripping shaft IIS'. Each shaft H5 is reciprocably mounted in spaced bearings i' formed integrally on the back facev of theinner stemmer jaw '55. Each stripping shaft i |S` has a longitudinal key |8 which rides in aikeyw'ay formed in spaced bearings to prevent rotative movement of the shaft H5 and to maintain the foot portion I3 thereof in alignment with respect to the fruit holding cup 24 cooperating there-' with.

rllhe reciprocable movement of the stripping shafts ||S is controlled by a stripper yoke unit i9 having two parallel yokes |20. The yoke unit' |9 is'pivotally mounted on the overhanging head portion of the stemmer frame 29 by separate pintles |`2| secured to the yoke unit by set-screws |22 and extending through axially aligned bearings |23 formed in the side Skirting |05 of the frame 29. The yoke unit ||9 includes a transverse web |24 to which a stripper cam |29 having an acclivity |21 is secured by bolts |25. The stripper cam |26 engages a cam roller |28 carried byV a shaft |29 extending into bearings |30 formed in upwardly extending portions of the drive yoke 64'. The stripper yoke unit |`9 is'normally held in such position by a tension spring |3| (Fig. 8) that the stripper cam- |26 of the yoke unit engages the roller |28. The spring |3| is anchored to the stemmer frame 29, and the other end of the spring is hooked to the free end of a lever |32 secured to the end of one of the pintles 2| supporting' the yoke unit |9 on the frame 29.

It will therefore be seen that during the rotation of the cam 35 from position B to C (Fig. 4)

causing elevation of the assembly 52 While jaws 52V are in gripping engagement with the stems of the fruit, the cani roller |28 engages the acclivity |27' effecting rotation ofthe stripper yoke unit ||9 relative to the frame 29 against the action of the tension spring |`3 It is also apparent that when the stemmer drive yoke 64 is rotated counter-clockwise (Fig. 4) about its shaft 6'5 to open the jaws 92 the cam roller |28 Will swing away from stripper cam |26 to free the latter for rotative movement under the action ofA tension spring I3 This rotative movement of the yoke unit H9 is subsequently checked by engagement of a transverse web |33 thereof with a stop lug |34 secured to the overhanging head portion of the stemmer frame 29.

The yoke arms 20 embrace split block |35 and |3505 (Figs. and 16) within which cylindrical shank portions |36 and 36a of a stripping shaft spacing bar |31 are rotatably mounted. The bar |31 is provided with a plurality of spaced passages |31a within which the upper portions of the stripping shafts I|| are slidably mounted. Each shaft H6 is provided with a helical spring |38 disposed below the bar |31. The springs |38 are held under desired compression against the underside of the bar by an adjustable collar |39 fixed by set screws |39 to the shafts H6. Similar helical springs |40 on each shaft H5 are disposed above the bar 31 and are held under desired compression against the upper side of the bar by an adjustable collar |4| iixed by set screws |4| to the upper ends of the shafts.

Each stripping foot portion ||3 is positioned relative to the stemmer jaw 66 in such a manner that the nut ||5a abuts against the bearing ||1 adjacent the saine when the jaws are in the position as shown in Fig. 8. Upon closing of the jaws 63 and |56 each stripping foot is slightly lowered so as to move beneath the ngers IU and on the opposite stemmer jaw 63 yand to cooperate with said fingers so as to center the stems relative to the vertical axis of the fruit holding cup 24. When the stemmer jaws 63 `and G5 are tightened to grip the stem of the fruit as hereinbefore explained and the stemmer head assembly 52 is elevated by rotation of the cam 35 from position B to position C (Fig. 5) the fruit is lifted from the supporting cup 24 so that it is pendently supported by its stem.

During the initial upward movement of the stemmer head assembly `52 each stripping foot ||3 is depressed by reason of the engagement of the cam roller |28 on the drive yoke 64 with the stripper Icam |25 whereby the yoke unit 9 is rocked against the action of spring 3| and the spacer bar |31 is urged downwardly. The downward movement of the spacer bar |31 compresses the lowei helical springs |38 whereby the collars |38 and stripping shafts ||6 are urged downwardly. g

As each stripping foot ||3 is depressed it engages the stein end of the suspended fruit to icenter the fruit in an inverted dish portion |42 (Fig. 11) formed on the underside of each stripping foot i I3 and concentric with the apex of the V- shaped end thereof. During this lowering' of each stripping foot ||3 relative to the stemmer jaws 52 the stem of each fruit is taughtened whereby the fruit is oriented and centered within the inverted dish portions |42 :and subsequently severed from the stems and positively pushed downwardly in oriented condition into the cups 24.

This replacement of each fruit in oriented position back into its cup 24 is brought Iabout by a snap like downward movement of each stripping foot ||3 as the fruit is stripped from the stem under the increased compression of the respective helical spring |38. The downward movement of each foot ||3 is faster than the gravitational movement of the fruit so that the fruit at no time is out of the control of the stripping feet I3 and is maintained in oriented position during its deposit into the icups 24. y

The helical springs |38 also function to yieldingly press the stripping feet H3 downwardly upon` the cherries while the 'latter are seated in the fruit holding cups 24. VSince the cherries vary in size and shape some cherries will extend higher out of the cup 24 than others. However, although each foot 3 is depressed to a certain level to assure engagement with the smallest cherry in the cup therebeneath each foot is free to yield upwardly against the laction of spring |38 upon engagement with the stem end of the cherry so that each foot 3 assumes a level commensurate with the upper surface of the fruit seated in the cup 24 without crushing or distorting the fruit.

Each cherry is therefore positively replaced into its cup 24 in oriented condition i. e. stem end up and with its stem blossom axis in alignment with the axis of the cup so that subsequent operations such `as pitting and reshaping may be effectively performed on the fruit and a uniform product is obtained.

After the fruit has been stripped from its stem the head assembly 52 continues to rise to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 13 thus elevating cam roller |28 beyond the stripper cam ac.- clivity |21 whereby the yoke unit ||9 is released for rotation into normal position by its spring |3 and the stemmer jaws 62 are raised relative to the spacing bar |31 causing the stripping feet ||3 to remain in depressed position relative to the outer jaw 66 but elevated above the oriented fruit. g

Associated with the comb unit |08 cooperating with the outer stemmer jaw B3 is an actuating mechanism for operating the spaced fingers` ||0 and so as t0 clamp or grip the stems of the cherries subsequent to the stripping operation and to release the same after the jaws B2 have been swung to open position.

The comb unit |98, as hereinbefore explained, is carried by the horizontal plate 88 forming the bight portion of the U-shaped frame 86 `which operates jointly with the outer stemmer jaw 63. The lingers |||l are equally spaced from each other and are secured to the upper side of the horizontal plate `88 by spot welding (Fig. 1 2), The fingers are spot welded to the underside of a shiftable plate |43 which is arranged between the lever arms 81 of the U-shaped frame 8B with each finger arranged in the space between companion fingers IIB so that the fingers may shift laterally as a unit relative to the ngers IID.

Secured by countersunk bolts |44 at each end of the shiftable plate |43 is a mounting block 45 having aligned bores |46 for mount-ing the blocks |45 on a shiftable shaft |41 to which the blocks are secured by set screws |48 (Fig. 9)`. The ends of this shiftable shaft |41 extend through bores |49 in -thevlever arms 81 whereby the shaft |41 is slidably arranged within the U-shaped frame 36 with the fingers Vin the same horizontal plane as the fingers ||0 for shiftable movement 4relative thereto.

The shaft |41 and the shiftable section of the comb unit |08 i. e. the plate |43 and fingers are normally urged in one direction relative to F the stationary section of the comb unit by a compression spring |50 arranged on a protrud;` ing end |5| of the shaft |41 and held in compressed relation with the side wall of the adjacent lever arm 81 by a collar |52 fixed to the shaft 41 by a set screw |53. By this arrange# ment the iingers of the laterally shiftable section of the comb unit |08 are normally held in spaced relation with respect to the fingers ||0 of the stationary section of the comb unit and with one of the mounting blocks |45 bearing n .against .the `side Awall .of .the adjacent lever .arm BIFi'g'.V 14'). 'Withflthe Vi-l'ng'ers I|T|0 and `I'I IY in .spaced `relation-.the -con'b unit |168 forms a .stem .centering vfoot cooperating with Vthe stripping feet `.'||'3 lon the inner stemmer :jaw 6.610 veryically .align the stem of the .fruit ,before the steriimerjaws -62 grip vthe stems and elevate the 'latter-for orienting and stripping operations he'reinbefore explained.

The shaft |41 yis shifted against the action of Y .the compression spring |511 (Fig. .14) by a lever |54 extending laterallyQin the .general direction bflthelongitudinal axis .of the shiitingshaft 4|4`| '.-andlhaying one end threadably secured to a yoke lever '|55I`S'tradd1ingfthe shaft-141 and having its uiip'errefidipivotarymountesas ai. les, on an .in- -iilardly.extending bracket "|51 on one of the lever la'rms' ,81. .Y

"'"Ihe -shaft |41 is hollow at 'the end straddled '.byitheyokelever |55 to .prov-ide, a housing |53 ..V(Fig..9') for receiving Ya cushion :spring |59 which bearSagainSt a .pin Y|60 .carried by the .yoke lever |55 and. extending through aligned slots '|61 formed in vthe .shaft |41. "The open end .Of the tubular housingr .|58 vin the shaft `IllI -is .closed bya screw plug |62 .threaded into the .tubular housingo hold Vthe Vcushion spring. .|59 under desired {pressureagains't thefpin .|60 and to inaintain the `latter at one end 4of the slots 46| as .seen inFig. `9.

)"Thefree end of the .lever `.I.54 .is .adapted "to :be engagedby fa cam bracket -|63 vfixed by bolts |64 to the .stemmer 'frame 29.. When Ythe head ass'emblyl5x2 `is elevated thelfree Vend of the lever ,|54 .visdepressedby .the cam .bracket .163. Therepressed whereby the yoke|55 is ,swung .clockwise (Fig. d4) and .the `.pinfllll is fforced against-the Icjshion .spring 4.58 thereby shifting the shaft I-,4 'I., fmounting r.blocks y|45 .and plate .|43 to vmove Athefi'ingers f|l||=toward Vthe lingers .-III' thus closilngftheffingers relative Lto each other.

The cushionspring .|59 lprovic'les, a yieldable eonnection .between the clampingfmgers il and cI-iIgI rand-the.-yolfre pin .|60 so .that when the stems fare clamped, additional 'movement .of 'the :pin |60 vbyfreason of further depression A-of the .lever .|54 merely :compresses the .cushion spring `|59. m

' Whenvduring the rotation of the cam 35 -the radial liney -Cthereof (-Fig.-5) .approaches 4the rollers 4| and 46 the laterally shi'ftable section @f the comb v|08 is zshiftedso that-the ngers :I I thereof moveitoward the fingers v|=Ill vof thestaftionaryfsection 'of the comb |68 whereby Ythe fseveredfstemsheld Aby the V.stemmer jaws 6,2 are clamped between the fingers I Irand -I |-I. There:- 'ore ywhen the lawsV 63-.66 `are.subsequent-ly epenedthe severedstems-:are firmly-.held by 4the 4,comb 'unit lwassociated 'with the outer istem- `iiner'fjaw" 63. `In other `words the 4sh'iftable 'sectionof thecomb VI'Ilis shifted toward lthe stationary section thereof as'thestemmer head asfs'emblyis -raised -f^rom-the full fto dotted line po- 'sit'ion :in -Fig. 13 land rthefrlee end of :the leverV ibis-depressed by x:the ical-n bracket |63. Thereupon vthe `continued 'rotation fof the rotary cam 35 from registrationwof the cam .rollers 4I and VL6 with the fradial linerC :to their 'registration withithe:radial-linevDiFigi f5) causes theroller 45| tto -continueupwardly -while the roller V46Y re- :m'ains'at vits extrem'e elevated 'level in the dwell .of `the -cam track 4:1 ithus :raising -vthe Aouter freiprocable 'shaft 33 and "theijawoperating yoke .5M -and :rocking the wstemmer .drive yoke 64 as :hereinbefore explained :whereby the V1stemmer jaws 62 are opened :as :shown in zFig. 116. while athe 1.2 .seyeredsstems .are firmly held between the fingers lfIland `I|I associated with the outer. stemmer fj'aw Q63.

A shoe |65 Vis -xed to the underside of ythe plate '88 below one lof the rlever arms '81 of the .U-shaped frame 86 by means of "the bolts B6. This shoe 4|65 .has .a downwardly .bent end '|66 extending outwardly ftoward the stemmer frame 29 .and .is 'provided with a lateral cam portion |61 adapted to engage la dog |'68.secured to the inner face of the web 32 .of .the frame 29. The arrangement is such `thatfw'hen the stemmer head assembly 52 is infully elevated position .as .seen in Fig. 16 the downwardly bent cam portion .ILSI of the shoe |65 swings into a position above the laterally extending dog |68 when Y.the jaws 62 are opened. Upon descent of the stemmer head as 'sembly 52V thebent cam portion 6'I engages 'the dog |68 and is cammed outwardly and away from thelouter stemmer jaw 63. This camming `action of thebent cam portion |61 likewise causes "the U-shaped frame 86 to be swung away from the outer stemmer jaw 63 thus swinging the Vcomb 'unit V|66 under the gripping face II of the outer jaw 63 to pull the severed vstems which are still clamped between the ngers I|0 and ||I back under the jaw 63. y A When the clamping jaws 62 are open 'as seen in Fig. 16 it will lbe noted that the lever V|54 has swung into a recessed portion |69 of the 'cam bracket |63. Therefore as the stemmer head assembly descends the lever 154 is released Apermitting compression spring |56 .to urgethe .shiftable shaft |41 and the .shiftable section of the comb unit |08 to normal position whereby the lingers |jI| are shifted away from.`the fingers H0 and the lsevered .stems are released and drop at 'a 'p 'oint remote from the fruit holding cups .24 outside the periphery of .the .turret T. If desired a suitable discharge chute, not shown, may be provided for conveying the severed stems away Virom'the fruit handling mechanism.

Upon continued `descent of the'stemmer head assembly 52 'the cam portion |61 .rides off of the dog |68, Land the U-shaped frame 86v is returned into engagement with the outer stemmer jaw 63 under'the action of the springs :5L The rotary cam '35 Vhas n'ow completed one cycle of operation andthe radial Vline A thereof is again in registration with the cam rollers 4| 'and 46 to permit the stemmer headassembly 52 to assume the positi'on shown in Fig. 8 and is ready for operation upon the next group of cherries.

Brieily summarizing the operation of `the foregoing structure, it will be recalled that one chordal lgroup `of cups 24 rstreceives a series or a ,group o'f fruit from the feed mechanism F with the stems of the fruit extending substantially in an upward direction. The turret T is :then intermittently operated to thereby .present one chordalgroup ofvfruit supporting `cups 2li to the stemming mechanisms. When the chordal group of cups is thus presented -to Athe .stemming mechanism, the radial line A of the cam 35 is in registration with ,the cam rollers v4I and 46 whereby the -stemmer jaws =62 are vheld in open condition. ADuring movement -of the cam -35 4in a clockwise direction, Fig. 5, so as -toregister its radial .li-ne B with the `cam rollers 4| and 46, the stemmer head assembly `52 islowered into the position as Ashown in Fig. 4, and Asimultaneously therewith the stem gripping jaws A62 approach closed position. It will be apparent rom'Fig. 19 that-during `closing of the jaws :62, the stem -cen tering Ccmbs f|=08 and |09, carried f11n/.fthe .re-

spective jaws 63 and 66, engage the stems of the fruit supported by the cups 24 to righten the stems until they are disposed in substantially vertical position. Consequently, when the stem gripping faces 1| on the jaws 62 engage the stems, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the stems are gripped and held in a substantially vertical position, the faces ll of the gripping jaws tightening upon the stems as the spring 8D is compressed, in the manner as shown in Fig. 4.

During the next phase of rotation of the cam 35 until the radial line C registers with the cam rollers 4|, 46, the stemmer bracket 53 is elevated with the stems iirmly gripped between the jaws 62 thereby lifting the cherries by their stems until the cherries are pendently supported above the cups 24. As the stemmer bracket 53 rises the yoke unit |19 associated therewith is rocked downwardly causing downward movement of the stem stripping shafts H6. Consequently, each stripping foot |93, of the comb unit |09 associated with the shafts i I6, engages the stem end of the pendently supported cherries. As the downward pressure of the stripping feet ||3 increases relative to the upward movement of the stemmer bracket, the suspended cherries are centered in the dish portions |42 of each foot, the stems of the fruit are tautened, orienting the fruit relative to the cups 24 followed by a quick severance of each cherry from its stem. The fruit portion is then positively pushed downwardly by the stripping feet I3 into the oups 24 therebelow. It is, therefore, apparent that the stemming mechanism of the present invention is so constructed that the upward movement of the stemmer bracket 53 causes a simultaneous downward movement of the stem stripping feet H3, forming a portion of the stem centering mechanism, to strip the fruit from their stems, orient the fruit, and positively deposit the fruit into their respective supporting cups 24 in a proper position for further treatment.

As the stemmer bracket 53 continues to move upwardly, as aforesaid, the lever arm |54 engages the cam bracket |63, see dotted lines Fig. 13, rocking the lever arm |54 to actuate the stem clamping fingers 0, Ill, which constitute the comb unit |06, from normal stem aligning position, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, to stem clamping position, as shown in Fig. 14. The stems are therefore clampingly held by the fingers as well as by the faces 1| of the jaws 62 as the stemmer bracket rises to its maximum elevated position. It should be noted that the cushion spring 59 within the clamp actuating mechanism yields sufliciently during clamping of the stems to avoid crushing of the stems to thereby pre vent fragments of the stems from clinging to the stem engaging edges of the clamping fingers Ill, This eliminates the danger of stem fragments subsequently falling onto and fouling the turret or the fruit cups 24 while the fruit is pendcntly supported thereabove.

During the next phase of the rotation of the cam 35, i. e., toward registration of the radial line D with the cam rollers 4|, 46, the jaws 62 open while the stemmer bracket 53 remains in fully elevated position, as seen in Fig. 16. It is while the stemmer jaws 62 are held in opened condition, as aforesaid, that the turret T is again intermittently operated to move the stemmed cherries from beneath the stemming mechanism S and to present a new group of unstemmed fruit to the same.

n During openingof the stemmer jaws 62, the

14 lever arm |54 slips into the recess portion |69 of the cam bracket |63 and, although the clamp actuating mechanism is thereby slightly released, there is yet sufficient compression on the cushion spring |59 to hold the clamping feet III), in closed condition against the stems therebetween. Moreover, as the jaws 62 open, the shoe |65 associated with the U shaped frame 37 on the outer stemmer jaws 63 moves into a position above the dog |63 secured to the frame 29. Consequently, as the cam 35 proceeds through the next phase of its operation toward registration of its radial line A with the cam rollers 4|, 46, the stemmer bracket 53 is lowered into the position as shown in Fig. 17. The foregoing causes the U shaped frame 5l and stem clamping fingers l l0, l| to be cammed outwardly as the shoe |65 slides over and behind the dog 53, i. e., the comb unit |08 carrying the stems is moved away from the outermost stemmer jaw 53 as the lever arm |54- is released during movement thereof away from the cam bracket |63. The stems are therefore released from between the clamping iingers Ill),

at a point remote from the turret T, as is illustrated in Fig. 17. The stemmer head assembly then progresses to the position shown in Fig. 8 and the shoe |65 passes beyond engagement with the dog |58 permitting the U shaped frame and now opened comb unit |58 to return to normal position below the outer stemmer jaws 63. The foregoing cycle of operation is then repeated upon each intermittent operation of the turret T to automatically strip the fruit from the stems, deposit the fruit in oriented position in the cup 24,

` and to discharge the stems beyond the periphery of the turret T.

While I have described a particular embodiment of the present invention it will be understood that various changes and modiications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A stemming device for fruit pitting machines comprising pivotally arranged gripping jaws, stem centering means mounted adjacent each of said jaws beneath the same and movable therewith for righting the stems incident to closing of the jaws, means for closing said jaws, means for movably mounting the stem centering means adjacent one of said jaws for relative movement in a plane normal to the plane of the closing action of said jaws, and means for eifecting coordinated movement of said relatively movable stem centering means relative to the jaws.

2. A stemming mechanism for fruit pitting machines comprising cooperating stem gripping jaws, means for closing the stem gripping jaws for gripping the stem of a fruit presented thereto, stem centering means mounted adjacent and movable with the stem gripping jaws for aligning the stem of the fruit with respect to the stem gripping jaws during closing of the' same, means for mounting the stem centering means on one of the stem gripping jaws for movement lengthwise of an aligned stem gripped by said jaws, and means for moving the movable stem centering means toward the fruit in coordinated relation with the stem gripping jaws while the stems are held thereby for engaging the fruit and for stripping the same from the stem.

3A stemming mechanism for fruit pitting 'machines comprising cooperating jaws, means for closing the jaws for gripping the stem of a fruit presented thereto, centering means mounted adjacent each of said jaws and simultaneously operable therewith for aligning the stem of the fruit with respect to the jaws during closing of the same, a portion of said stem centering means being mounted for coordinated movement relative to lits associated jaw and in a direction lengthwise of an aligned stem gripped thereby, and Vmeans for actuating said relatively movable portion of the stem centering means for engaging the fruit and for stripping the same from the stem held by said jaws.

4. A stemming mechanism for fruit pitting machines comprising cooperating jaws for gripping the fruit by its stem, fruit supporting means for presenting a fruit to the gripping jaws, means for operating the stem gripping jaws for gripping the stem of the fruit presented thereto, means mounted adjacent each of the stem gripping jaws and cooperable for aligning the stem of the fruit with respect to the fruit supporting means incident to the operation of the stem gripping jaws to grip the stem of the fruit, means for mounting said stem aligning means associated with one of the jaws for coordinated movement relative thereto in a direction lengthwise of an aligned stem gripped by said jaws, and means for actuating said relatively movable stem aligning means for moving the latter toward the fruit for engaging the fruit to orient the same relative to the fruit supporting means and for stripping the fruit from its stem.

5. A stemming mechanism for fruit pitting rnachines comprising stem gripping jaws, a fruit support, means for closing the stem gripping jaws for gripping the stern of a fruit presented thereto by the fruit support, stem engaging means associated with the stem gripping jaws for aligning the stem of the fruit with respect thereto during closing thereof, means for lifting the stem gripping jaws relative to the fruit support for suspending the fruit thereabove, means mounting the stem engaging means associated with one of the jaws for vertical movement relative to the stem gripping jaws, and means for actuating said movably mounted stem engaging means incident to lifting of the stem gripping jaws for engaging the stem end of the suspended fruit to orient the fruit relative to the fruit support, for stripping the fruit from its stem and for depositing the fruit in oriented condition into the fruit support.

6. A fruit stemming machine comprising a fruit support, cooperating jaws, means for actuating said jaws for gripping the stem of a fruit presented thereto by the fruit support, stem centering means associated with each of the jaws for aligning the stem of the fruit co-axially with the fruit support incident to the gripping of the stem by said jaws, means mounting the stem centering means for vertical movement relative to the jaws associated therewith, means for raising the jaws with respect to the fruit support for lifting the fruit therefrom by its stem, means cooperating with said jaw raising means for depressing said vertically movable stem centering means to strip the fruit from its stem and return the fruit into the fruit support.

7. A fruit stemming machine comprising a fruit support, cooperating jaws, means for actuating the jaws for gripping the stem of a fruit presented thereto by the fruit support, stem centering means associated with each of the jaws for aligning the stem of the fruit coaxially with said fruit support, means on one o f said jaws for guiding the stem centering means associated therewith for vertical movement, and means for lifting said jaws and for depressing the vertically movable stem centering means for stripping the fruit from its stem and for positioning the fruit stem end up in said fruit support.

8. In a fruit stemming mechanism including a pair of stem gripping jaws adapted to grip the stem of the fruit and support the fruit in `'suspended condition, the combination of: means on Said jaws beneath the same for aligning the stem of the fruit relative to the gripping ,jawsy incident to the gripping of the stem, means mounting the stem aligning means on one of said jaws for downward movement relative to the jaws, and means for actuating said relatively movable stem aligning means for relative downward movement with the jaws in stem gripping condition `to engage the fruit and strip the same from its stem.

9. A fruit stemming mechanism comprising ,a pair of stem gripping jaws for gripping the stem of a fruit presented thereto, stem aligning means mounted adjacent each o1 said jaws and operatively connected thereto for orienting the stem of the fruit incident to the stem gripping operation of said jaws, means for mounting the stem aligning means which are adjacent one of said jaws for movement relative thereto in 'a direction lengthwise of a stem aligned by said aligning means, and means for moving said relatively movable stem aligning means toward the fruit in coordinated relation with a jaw gripping movement to strip the fruit from its stem gripped by said Jaws.

`10. In a fruit stemming mechanism including a pair of stem gripping jaws associated with a fruit support to receive and grip the stem of a fruit presented thereto by said support, the combination of 2 stem aligning means associated with each of the jaws to right the stem and fruit relative to said fruit support incident to the stem gripping operation of said jaws, means for mounting the stem aligning means associated with one of said jaws for vertical movement relative thereto, means for elevating the jaws to lift the fruit by its stem from the support and to hold it in suspended condition thereabove, and means operatively associated with said elevating means for actuating the movable stem aligning means to urge the later toward the stem end of the fruit whereby the fruit is oriented relative to saidfruit support, stripped from its stem and replaced in oriented condition in said fruit support.

11. A stemming mechanism comprising fruit supporting means, a pair of jaws associated with the fruit supporting means for receiving the stem of a fruit supported therein, means for closing the jaws to grip the stem of the fruit and for subsequently opening the jaws to release the stem therefrom, stem engaging means on each of the jaws and cooperating to align the stem of the fruit with respect to the fruit supporting means incident to closing of the jaws, means mounting the stem engaging means on one of the jaws for reciprocable movement toward and away from said fruit supporting means, means mounting the stem engaging means on the other of said jaws for movement into clamping engagement with the stem and for lateral movement relative to the jaws, means for elevating the jaws in closed condition relative to the fruit supporting means to suspend the fruit on its stem above the fruit supporting means, means operatively associatedv with the elevating means for depressing the reciprocable stem engaging means to strip the fruit from the stem while the latter is gripped by said jaws, means for actuating the laterally movable stem engaging means into clamping engagement with the stem incident to opening of the jaws, and means for moving the laterally movable stem engaging means away from the jaw associated therewith and for subsequently rendering said actuating means ineiective to thereby discharge the stem from said laterally movable stem engaging means at a point remote from said fruit supporting means.

l2. A stemming mechanism comprising a pair of jaws normally open to receive the stem of a fruit therebetween, means for closing the jaws to grip the stem of the fruit and for subsequently opening the jaws to release the stem therefrom, stem engaging means on each of said jaws and cooperating to align the stem of the fruit between the jaws incident to the closing of the same, means mounting the stem engaging means on one of the jaws for reciprocable movement parallel to the stem gripped thereby, means mounting the stem engaging means on the other of said jaws for movement into clamping engagement with the stem and for lateral movement away from the jaws, means for depressing the reciprocable stem engaging means to strip the fruit from its stem while the latter is gripped by said jaws, means for actuating the laterally movable stem engaging means into clamping engagement with the stem, and means for moving the i laterally movable stem engaging means away from said jaws when the latter are open and for subsequently rendering said actuating means ineffective to thereby discharge the stem from said laterally movable stem engaging means at a point remote from said jaws.

13. A stemming mechanism comprising a movable fruit support, a pair of normally opened jaws arranged for reciprooable movement above said fruit support, means for closing the jaws for gripping the stem of a fruit presented thereto by the fruit support, stem engaging means associated with the jaws for aligning the stem of the fruit relative to the fruit support incident to closing of said jaws and comprising a fruit stripping foot mounted on one of the jaws for movement relative thereto tol engage the stem end of the fruit and a pair of relatively movable feet mounted on the other one of the jaws for releasably holding the stem of the fruit incident to the opening of the jaws, means for elevating the jaws relative to the fruit support while the jaws are in closed position to suspend the fruit above said fruit support, means associated with the stripping foot and engageable by the elevating means for depressing said stripping foot to strip the fruit from its stem and urge the fruit into the fruit support, and means for actuating said relatively movable feet when the jaws are elevated to releasably hold the severed stem between said movable feet during opening of the jaws and to release the severed stem from said feet to thereby discharge the stem at a point remote from the fruit holding means upon subsequent lowering cf the jaws.

14. In a fruit stemming mechanism including a pair of normally opened jaws adapted to receive the stem of a fruit and means for closing said jaws for gripping the stem of the fruit received thereby, the combination of stem aligning means associated with said jaws for righting 18 the stem ofthe fruit incident to the closing Vof said jaws and comprising a fruitstripping root mounted on one of said jaws for vertical movement relative thereto for engaging the stem end o the fruit, and stem clamping feet mounted on the other one of said jaws for movement relative to each other for clamping the stem therebetween and for subsequently discharging the stem therefrom, means for depressing the stem stripping foot relative to the jaws to strip the fruit from its stem, means for actuating the stem clamping feet to clamp and hold the severed stem therebetween during opening of said jaws and for releasing the severed stem after the jaws assume opened condition to release the severed stem :from said clamping feet.

15. A stemming mechanism comprising a fruit support, a pair of normally open jaws reciprocable in a vertical direction toward and away from said fruit support to receive the stem of a fruit supported therein, means for closing said jaws to grip the stem of a fruit presented thereto by said fruit support, stem centering means associated with said jaws .for aligning the stems relative to the axis of said fruit support incident to the closing of the jaws, said stem centering means comprising a stripping foot :arranged on one jaw for vertical movement relative thereto for engaging the stem end of the fruit and stem clamping feet arranged on the other jaw for holding the stem of the fruit, means for elevating said jaws while they grip the stem of a fruit, means for depressing said stripping foot during elevation of said jaws to strip the fruit from its stem and to return the fruit into said fruit support, means for actuating said stem clamping feet during elevation of said jaws to clamp and hold the stem between said clamping feet during opening of said jaws and for subsequently releasing the stem upon descent of said jaws while the latter are open to thereby discharge the severed stem at a point remote from said fruit support.

16. In a stemming mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws for gripping a fruit by its stem, the combination of a stem discharge comprising stem clamping feet arranged on one of the gripping jaws, means mounting alternate clamping feet for shiftable movement relative to intermediate clamping feet, means normally maintaining the clamping feet in spaced relation to receive the stem of the fruit therebetween incident to closing of said jaws, means for shifting the alternate clamping feet toward the intermediate clamping feet to hold the stem therebetween incident to the opening of said jaws and for moving said feet away from each other to release the stems when said jaws are in open position.

17. In a stemming machine including vertically reciprocating gripping jaws pivotally mounted for movement into closed position when the jaws are in lowermost position for gripping the stem of a fruit presented thereto and for subsequently releasing the same when the jaws are in their uppermost position, and means for stripping the fruit from the stem while gripped by said jaws and during elevation of the same, the combination of a stem discharge comprising a frame mounted on one of said jaws for movement therewith and relative thereto, spaced stem engaging feet arranged on said frame, means mounting alternate ones of said feet for lateral shifting movement relative to intermediate feet thereof, means normally holding said feet in spaced relation to receive the stem 'f the fruit incident to closing of said jaws, means for actuating said alternate feet into clamuping relation with said intermediate 'feet for holding the stem therebetween when the jaws approach uppermost position and open relative to each other, and means for moving said frame relative to the jaw associated therewith as said jaws move toward their lowermost position, said actuating means being rendered ineffective during relative movement of said frame with respect to the jaw associated therewith to release the severed stem from said clamping feet.

18. In a stemming machine including pivotally mounted jaws alternatelyopening and closing to grip the stem of a fruit presented thereto and means for stripping the vfruit from the stem, a stem discharge comprising in combination, stem clamping vfeet on one of said jaws and normally spaced to receive the stem of the fruit gripped by said jaws, means for actuating said feet to closed position for holding the stem therebetween incident to the opening of said jaws, means mounting said stem clamping feetfor movement relative to said jaws, and means for moving said stem clamping feet away from said jaws and for subsequently releasing said means for actuating the feet whereby the feet assume normally spaced relation and discharge the stem therefrom at a point remote from said jaws.

19. In a stemming machine including pivotally Y mounted stem gripping jaws alternately opening and closing to grip the stem of a fruit presented thereto, means for lowering the jaws 'in open position and for raising the jaws in closed position, and means for stripping the fruit from its stem incident to raising of said jaws, a stem discharge mechanism comprising normally spaced stem clamping feet associated with one of said jaws for aligningthe ste'm of the fruit incident to closing of the jaws, means actuated upon raising of the jaws for urging said feet into clamping engagement with respect to each other to hold a stem therebetween incident to opening of the jaws, means mountingsaid clamping feet on the jaw associated therewith for movement away from said jaws, means for retarding movement of said mounting means as said jaws aren lowered to thereby move the clamping reet away from 'said jaws, said actuated means beingrendered ineffectiVe as said jaws are lowered and V'while said mounting means is retarded whereby said clamping feet assume normally spaced'relation to release and discharge the severed stem therefrom at a point remote from said jaws.

20. In a cherry stemming apparatus including a stern support for holding a cherry by its stem while the cherry is ystripped. therefrom, a stem discharging mechanism comprising a frame meuht'd Y'on said stem support for movement away therefrom, stem clamping feet on said frame and normally spaced to receive therebetween the stem of 'a cherry held by said Vstern support, means associated with said frame for actuating said stem clamping feet into gripping engagement with the stem therebetween while itis held by said stem support and for holding said stem after it is released from the stem support, cam means adjacent said stem support and adapted to be engaged by a portion of said frame, means for moving said stem support and said cam means relative to each other whereby said portion 'of said frame engages said cam to move the frame away from said stem support and said actuating means is rendered ineffective to thereby release and discharge the ste'm from said stem clamping feet at a point remote from said stem supe port.

21. In a cherry stemming apparatus including a pair of jaws alternately moving into open and closed position for receiving and holding the stem of a cherry whilethe cherry is stripped from its stem, a stem discharging mechanism comprising Vin combination a frame mounted on one of said jaws for movement laterally therefrom, stem clamping feet on said frame and normally spaced to receive the stem of a cherryheld by said jaws, means on said frame and including an actuating lever for said stem clamping feet, a cam adjacent said jaws and adapted to depress said actuating lever for closing said stem clamping feetY while a stem is disposed therebetween and for holding the stem after it is released from said jaws, a second vcam fixed in spaced relation relative `to, said 'first named cam adjacent said jaws and adapted to be engaged by a .portion of said frame when thejaws are in open position for moving the vframe laterally from therjaws and means for eiecting a relative reciprocable movement in a vertical direction between said jaws and said 'cams whereby said actuating means is depressed incident 4to ropening of said jaws and is released incident to engagement of said porf tion of said frame with said second named cam thereby releasing the stem from Vbetween 'said stem clamping `feet when they are spaced laterally from said jaws. Y

LEONARD AKER.

REFERENCES CITED The :following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

